Wonder Woman in Business, Kathleen Hilton

Kathleen Hilton

Curious, resilient and humor-forward professional services marketing executive and proven revenue generator. Kathleen Hilton is a 30+ year Big Law marketing veteran (hence the humor-forward attribute) focused on outcomes driving increased customer loyalty and revenue.

Kathleen guides and coaches lawyers to build and sustain authentic relationships. Internal and external clients value my ability to scope the full customer experience, from the front-end sales process to ongoing service. Her portfolio spans account management, industry sector marketing, sales coaching, DEIB, ESG, designing thinking and brand.

Here are a few favorite resources: You’re Not Listening: What You’re Missing and Why It Matters; Strategy and the Fat Smoker: Doing What’s Obvious But Not Easy; the Go Giver; Anand Sanwal at CB Insights; anything Axios and Smart Brevity. Certified by IDEO U Insights for Innovation and by Inspiring Comfort as a Trainer.

Kathleen Hilton

Connect with Kathleen

stage LLC - https://stage.guide/

Inspiring Comfort - https://www.inspiringcomfort.com/our-story

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-hilton-8781873/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kathleenbigsur/

Kathleen Helen Hilton, co-founder + principal

kathleen@stage.guide

1.443.509.5510



Wonder Woman in Business, Valerie Nelan

Valeri Nelan

a.k.a. Valerie Pepper

Valerie Nelan writes under the pseudonym Valerie Pepper. During the day, Valerie Nelan is Chief of Staff at Baker Donelson law firm, working with and on behalf of the Firm’s CEO and COO. In this role, she operates at a tactical, strategic, and operational level to execute on a variety of Firm priorities and initiatives. She regularly collaborates with multiple departments across the Firm, launching and overseeing special projects, monitoring them as needed, ensuring follow-through, and sustaining the necessary momentum for completion. Throughout her workday, she is a listener, advisor, proxy, doer, goalkeeper, implementer, integrator, and air traffic controller. Baker Donelson is a large, 600-lawyer firm located primarily in the southern United States.

By early morning and in the evenings, Valerie dons her “professional smut dealer” hat and writes steamy romantic comedies as Valerie Pepper. She independently published her debut novel in April 2023 and is working on the next two books in the series. The recipient of the Contemporary Romance Writers’ 2021 Stiletto Award, Valerie holds a Masters in Fiction and has been writing for nearly twenty-five years. She is an incurable optimist and a firm believer in happily ever afters, even if they take more than one try. Learn more at www.authorvaleriepepper.com or find her on social media – Instagram and TikTok are her favorites – @AuthorValeriePepper.

He’s always wanted her. She doesn’t do long term. Can he convince her to take a second chance on true love?

Devon Rayne has spent five years running from memories of the firefighter husband she lost. But when her grandmother’s will demands she return to take possession of her childhood home, she has no choice but to stay the required six months. She just needs everyone to leave her alone. And the scraggly dog that’s shown up is a definite no.

Paramedic Aaron Joseph wanted Devon the minute he saw her all those years ago. So when she falls at his feet–literally–her first day back, he figures his time has come. Lucky for him, he’s got the whole town on his side, from his meddling fire chief to some cantankerous old ladies. And the dog can definitely stay.

Aaron is ready to push past all his doubts for the woman he loves. Can Devon face her fears and open her heart to love a second time?

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is the first book in the Guided to Love small town romantic comedy series. If you enjoy sizzling sex scenes, small town shenanigans with nosy busybodies and a guaranteed happy ending, then this is the book for you! Perfect for fans of Tessa Bailey, Lucy Score, and Melanie Harlow.


Valerie Nelan



Wonder Woman in Business, Ana Brown

Ana Brown

Exciting things are happening at 3583 Market St, the former home of Empire Acro Gymnastics, which has sat vacant for over seven years. On February 3, Ana Brown hosted a pop-up preview at The Raincross District, her new “curated marketplace, wellness studio, and event space” in Downtown Riverside.

Just a few years ago, Ana and her family lived in Corona and would frequent Riverside for our downtown restaurant scene and walks up Mt. Rubidoux. It was on one of those morning walks when she was overcome by her vision to open a wellness studio. When she descended Mt. Rubidoux Brown immediately began driving around Downtown looking for a place that could house her vision. The idea to open a studio grew once Ana found the property a few steps away from the Riverside Food Lab.

“Don’t quit your day job while you’re working on your day dream” Brown told me while working her job as a loan officer from her laptop behind the counter of her newly opened marketplace which is breathing new life into this expansive storefront.

It wasn’t long after Ana and her husband acquired the property and began renovations on the space that they also purchased a home on Mission Inn Ave., less than a quarter-mile from their shop. Restoring the aging building was a family affair, Ana’s husband, Michael Carey, was the contractor for the renovation and their children hand picked off the crumbling plaster to help restore the walls. Not only has Ana made Riverside home for her family and business, she is also working to make it the home for other aspiring small-business owners.

“Finding a highly desirable location at a reasonable price is a challenge for the small business owner. By creating a collective of small businesses in one location, we eliminate high overhead allowing the small business owner to offer competitive prices and focus on growing their business” says Brown.

The Raincross District, which will celebrate a grand opening in March, is currently home to 11 vendors with room for ten more. Wall space is made available for free to local artists, like Julie Rose of the Eastside Art House, to exhibit and sell their work. Riverside’s Richie Velazquez, better known as Deladeso, installed some of his slime and grime work.

For a city with four major colleges and universities with a total of over 70,000 students, The Raincross District is a welcome addition to the city–providing a well curated home for creative expression and impeccable shopping.

Connect with Ana

Email: ana@raincrossdistrict.com

The Raincross District

Open from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. daily

3583 Market Street in Riverside, CA



Wonder Women in Business, Amanda Scott

Amanda Scott

At Willis Towers Watson, Amanda Scott is the Global Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Leader based in London. She leads a global team that helps clients evaluate and address the critical people-related issues, assets, liabilities, risks and opportunities surrounding corporate transactions. She inspires people to think differently about the future as they implement large-scale organizational change to drive innovation, diversity, and positive growth.

She is also the CEO/Founder of Mike’s Mates, a mental health charity in the UK. Additionally, Amanda is a Board Member for Global Women 4 Wellbeing (GW4W) and the Viviana Durante Ballet Company; remuneration committee member for Pensions Management Institute (PMI), and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion council member at Bayes Business School.

She regularly publishes industry thought leadership, provides commentary to the UK press and social media, and is an active public speaker. She has also received awards for Excellence in Leadership from Consulting Magazine; Corporate Leader of the Year by National Business Women’s Awards; HERoes for Inclusion and Diversity by Yahoo Finance; and was awarded as one of the UK 50 Leading Lights for Leadership & Kindness from Women of the Future.

Amanda graduated with an MBA in Management & Organization, and Finance from the Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. There she was the 2007 President and 2006 Vice President of Finance of the Board of Directors for the Part-Time MBA Association. Additionally, she holds a BA in Natural Sciences from Johns Hopkins University.

Amanda Scott

Connect with Amanda

Email

Amanda.Scott@WTWCo.com

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/amandabscott



Wonder Woman in Business, Kirtana Kalavapudi

Kirtana Kalavapudi

Kirtana (Keer-tha-na) Kalavapudi (she/her) wears many hats: Lawyer, Yoga Practitioner, Parent, Partner, Public Policy Advocate, Runner, and Earl Grey Aficionado (the more Bergamot, the better).  Kirtana's professional experience includes serving the public at Social Security Administration and internships at the George Washington University, Hirsh Health Law and Policy Program, Equip for Equality, Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and Walgreen Co.  Kirtana's academic experience includes a J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law, a Master of Public Health in Health Policy from the George Washington University, and Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Notre Dame of Maryland University.  Kirtana currently lives in Maryland with her partner, spouse, and Husky pup.  She enjoys training for and running in local races, facilitating yoga classes to foster a greater sense of connection in her community, and traveling around the world.  Kirtana also serves as the Co-Executive Editor for the National Association of Women Lawyers' Women Lawyers Journal.

Kirtana Kalavapudi

Connect with Kirtana

Email:

kkirtana@gmail.com

IG:

https://www.instagram.com/yogawithkirtana/

Website:

https://linktr.ee/yogawithkirtana



Wonder Woman in Business, Eleni Delimpaltadaki Janis

Eleni Delimpaltadaki Janis

Eleni Delimpaltadaki Janis

CEO | CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER

Expertise: ESG Investing | Inclusive & Online Lending | Economic Development | Inclusive Tech Ecosystems

Eleni is an entrepreneur and investment manager who has dedicated her career to building businesses and developing people. Particularly businesses that deliver a meaningful social impact while also generating attractive commercial returns. She brings to any situation resilience and persistence, which has defined her own life as an immigrant to the U.S. and innovator in business.

When Eleni co-founded Equivico at the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, she sought to build a company that, like her career, is situated at the nexus of smart, scalable investments and social justice. As an investment professional, she draws on her experience in government, economic development and market research, to invest profitably in businesses, assets and projects that benefit households, societies and investors alike.

Prior to Equivico, Eleni served as vice president at the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC). During her tenure, she established the first ESG investing team, administered a portfolio of 18 tech startup incubators, and advised on investment strategies targeting minority- and woman-owned businesses, life sciences and small businesses. Eleni also co-founded New York City’s corporate attraction team, which coordinated the City’s, initially winning, bid for Amazon’s second headquarters. The project was expected to be the largest economic development project in the U.S. in several decades.

Prior to NYCEDC, Eleni built The Opportunity Agenda’s market research practice where she serviced major social justice organizations and philanthropic institutions nationally. She published extensively on economic, immigration and human rights issues. Previously, she co-founded the Business and Labor Coalition of New York, an advocacy group of over 60 labor unions and large enterprises designing and advancing shared economic policy objectives.

Eleni serves on the Board of Advisors of iQ4, a technology-based cybersecurity skills transfer platform, and the Board of Directors of the Hellenic American Leadership Council. She previously served on the Boards of the American Association of Public Opinion Research, New York University Alumni Association Board of Directors, and the Business and Labor Coalition of New York. She holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from New York University and a Bachelor’s in Media Studies and Communications from the National University of Athens, in her native Greece. She studied Executive Management and Finance at the Wharton Business School and is an American Express Leadership Fellow.

Press and Public Speaking Engagement Highlights:

Small Business Trends: A Different Kind of Lender Can Get You the Loan You Need

On Impact Investing and Social Justice – A Conversation with Eleni D. Janis, Narratives of Purpose, May 2022
The “Social” Component of ESG Investing, EisnerAmper, April 2022
Interview at Behind the Numbers with David Bookbinder, March 2022
Annual Senior Portfolio Manager Panel 2022, 100 Women in Finance
Interview with Peer Insights Report by Family Office Insights, February 2022

Eleni Delimpaltadaki Janis

CONNECT WITH ELENI

Eleni Delimpaltadaki Janis​Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer

www.equivico.com

+1 646‑454‑5130

eleni@equivico.com

43 W 23rd Street, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10010